Podcast Archive

Mortification of Spin is no stranger to insults. The crew share some of the best (and worst) insults received. Across the board, the quality of insults has sharply declined since Martin Luther. Social media is much to blame.

But we want to encourage you to keep trying! Do you know what it takes to write a good insult? Do you possess the necessary tools?

Now serious though, the Internet has enabled us to type things that we’d never have the courage to say face-to-face. Should we then avoid online disagreements? What about name-calling? Tune in to find out how Aimee became the head of the FOM, about Todd’s elitism, and the way of dying that Carl fears the most.

Today the crew talks diaconal ministry. Deacons function differently in various denominations. Yet God, in His wisdom, clearly creates this office in the book of Acts. They have a unique role in caring for the physical needs of the congregation. And with counsel and wisdom complement the teaching ministry of the elders.

Carl, Todd, and Aimee help us with some misconceptions and answer some major questions: Is the diaconate a stepping stone to the role of elder? How ought deacons be chosen? Can a man be turned down for the office because of his wife?

Join us for this conversation! Stick around to the very end, you’ll learn some British slang and Trueman’s First Law!

Today the Spin team considers a Tim Challies post. There Tim ponders three themes or challenges for Reformed Christians in 2018. (Is that some sort of prophesy?) The crew discusses his third prediction–the growing Charismatic movement inside Reformed-ish circles.

Historic confessionalism, or Reformed theology, throughout the centuries has been cessationist - meaning the apostolic gifts have ceased. But some New Calvinists insist that one can be Reformed, yet be an "open but cautious" continuationist. What’s one to make of that? On the other hand, does Reformed mean a denial of a supernatural God? What about the sacraments?

Theology does matter and there are consequences to beliefs. Join us for an episode of pixie dust, dental golden filling, fallible prophecies, and the sufficiency of Scripture!

We apologize for not being able to offer the book mentioned on the podcast, but you can enter to win this another great title "Rediscovering the Holy Spirit" by Michael Horton courtesy of Zondervan. Enter for your chance to win.

While sipping peach tea in Georgia, the crew chats up Darrell Harrison for a great conversation on justice and race reconciliation. Once in a while Darrell gets into trouble for his writing at Just Thinking… For Myself – and for "applying biblical truth to social, cultural, political, and theological issues in our world". Odd, as his posts with the Alliance at reformation21 have always seemed subdued, but guess that’s compared to our own crew! The conversation goes back and forth but at the end of the day the issue lies on humanity's deepest need to be reconciled to God through Christ and consequently to one another. Darrell shines the light of divine justice on, so called, social justice, calls the church to recapture the biblical language around issues that have spiritual roots, and encourages understanding of those issues within a biblical framework. Darrel and the crew drill into the true mission of the church, the sovereignty of God in the ethnic composition of congregations, man – the image of God, derogatory name calling, and more. Grab your peach tea and join the conversation!

The Lord impressed upon my heart… The Lord told me… The Lord is calling me to... The Lord is leading me to… These are common church speak when making decisions. The crew has been led to offer some thoughts on them. Is strong conviction or impression the same as God calling? Is there a place for “calling”? What does it look like, and how do we know it’s real? Are there dangers in believing that God is calling one to do this or that? And is “feeling a peace about it” an accurate indicator?

There’s no question that God leads His people through sovereign providence, but do we really have an infallible insight into that? Let’s listen in about sanctifying wisdom and the role other believers play in our decision making!

This week we bring the doctor in! Dr. Mike Emlet recently wrote Descriptions and Prescriptions – A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications. He’s trained as a medical doctor, as a pastor, an active counselor, and he teaches counseling. Dr. Emlet seriously cares for people’s body and soul, taking both a biblical and scientific approach to that care.

As Christians, should we be skeptical about psychiatric diagnoses and their treatments? Is it helpful to label such approaches as unbiblical? On the other hand, is it proper to dive right into the use of medication, trusting everything related to science and medicine, while ignoring spiritual issues? Dr. Emlet shows us a third way and lays the groundwork for a balanced, biblical approach toward those struggling mentally, spiritually, and physically.

For the first time in 25 years, the state of Alabama has a Democrat senator. In a special senate election, Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore, who is fighting sexual misconduct allegations.

The crew discusses politics and morality in light of a recent article written by an evangelical commentator who claims Christian black women saved evangelicalism by overwhelmingly voting for Mr. Jones guaranteeing his victory.

Should we trade, so far unproven sexual allegations for straightforward immorality, pat ourselves on the back, and celebrate the outcome? And at the very core, what if all the options before us are contrary to Scripture?

Even Aimee’s dog has something to say about that one!

We have a several copies of "Republocrat" by Carl Trueman courtesy of P&R that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

After public confession of generational sin and absolution at the hands of the Spin team, Dr. Jonathan Master is ready to talk about pastoral integrity, accountability, disqualifying sin in the minister’s life, and the response from the church. Spoiler: No cover up here!

Jon is the host of Theology on the Go - the other podcast of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals! He’s also professor of theology, dean of the School of Divinity at Cairn University, and a minister in the OPC.

Today, we're reminded that it’s for good reason that Paul tells Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely - lives are at stake… eternally! Yet, we can't forget that ministers are sinners too and fellow travelers on the road of sanctification. Jonathan helps us spot the fine line between indwelling sin, humility, and washing dirty laundry in front of the congregation.

What do we know about Empress Mathilda, or Maud, as she was best known? Well until now, not so much. “The Girl Empress – The Chronicle of Maud” by Amy Mantravadi is a series of historical novels on the life of this fascinating English character of the 12th century.

Amy lets Empress Maud tell her own life story. From the extensive historical research Amy has done, we learn much about the time period. But this conversation is not only about Maud, it’s also about a certain modern theologian and church historian. Thanks to Amy, his wish was fulfilled in the character of Karl of Worms - a heroic character with some moral flaws who briefly appears in the pages of this volume. You’ll not believe me if I tell you who it is, you must listen for yourself!

Many in the online world are caught in the social media spin cycle of partisan bickering around politics, religion, and celebrity gossip. What is one to think of the frustration, the insults, and the open hostility that have become the normal pattern of response? Do we forget a human being is typing on the other side?

Our hosts need help as they consider how to think in this heated environment. There is no one better than Alan Jacobs to provide it! He is the distinguished professor of Humanities at Baylor University and an outstanding writer. His newest book How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds is a rich resource of well done research on how to navigate life from an Augustinian view of humanity. He might help us not view people as RCOs (Repugnant Cultural Others).

Warning, convicting content!

We have a several copies of "How to Think" by Alan Jacobs courtesy of Convergent that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

Search

Search MoS:

The Alliance is a coalition of pastors, scholars, and churchmen who hold the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed faith and who proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in today's Church.